03-25-1991 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1991 qoinq through that area to make the businesses thrive. I thin^ Orono should help the City of Long L^.Ke work with their .ana use planning to minimize the impact to the businesses. I oeiieve that once discussions begin that include going cross country onto a totally new alignment, and you take an env i ronment jimpact ot what is currently felt along Highway 12 and transrer that^to a 1,000 or 2,000 yard corridor elsewhere, and you wrap the City of Long Lake with freeways on both sides, ^ taat seems to be irrational, long range planning. The City o*. Orono shouiu try to negotiate with M-IDOT and the City of Long Lake to develop a solution that would be as least painful as possible to all parties concerned, while providing a safe, mayoe slow, but consistent with our land use plan, type of highway. It seems to me that once you go across Highway 6 or elsewhere, and MNDOT draws a line on a map without having any construction funds, that is irresponsible as it puts all j:he property owners along that line in jeopardy. We need to uphold our Comprehensive Plan. We don't have to apologize to other cities for what we stand for. We are entitled to protect our property values." Rowlette disagreed with Bruce Carlson's comments about business dieing if the freeway went around tne City of Long Lake. She said, "Most business districts thrive when the freeway does bypass them. Most of the traffic going through Long Lake does not stop, but only adds to the congestion. Tnat traffic makes it difficult for the local people to come into Long business. Many people stay away because of the traffic. Desyl Peterson, 4385 Chippewa Lane, agreed that the City of Orono has an obligation to the City of Long Lake. She said, I think the two cities should be consolidated. That is the ultimate solution for a number of problems including police/nire services, new public facilities and Highway 12. However, I do not believe that will happen in time. W*» could just consider the needs of Long Lake. The City of Long Lake has indicated their concern about loss of tax base and the impact on their business community. I thine. Orono has an obligation to work with Long Lake to make sure that does not happen. It may be necessary to relocate some of the businesses in Long Lake, but Orono could assist with that by detaching portions of our City and giving them to Long Lake. Orono may lose some tax base, but nothing compared to what may be lost if another corridor is selected. The area on Highway 12 near Otten Brothers may be an appropriate area to detach." Hartmut Ginnow stated that he is in the business o. aesthetics and that in his opinion the City of Long Lake needs to improve in that regard. He said, "In ny opinion, the City of Long Lake could only benefit from having slight pressure put on them to rebuild the downtown." - 6 -